Hesitation or loss of power at partial throttle in 1st and 2nd?

Car is a 20th, 1.8t 6-speed.
I noticed something the other day that is happening occasionally on acceleration. At partial throttle, usually pulling away from a light or stop sign, I get this weird hesitation. It only happens at partial throttle and usually only in first, sometimes in second. As the RPMs increase up to around 3k, it's as if I lose power for a second. You can feel the car stop accelerating for a second, then it begins to pull again.
If it's under heavy acceleration it never happens. It doesn't feel like the clutch slipping, more like the motor hesitating, but there's no noises or missing or anything like that. The RPMs don't jump up or anything. It's like for a second it's making no power, then it comes back.
Anyone experience anything like this. Anything I should check? Thanks for any help.

Re: Hesitation or loss of power at partial throttle in 1st and 2nd? (hipsiguy)

if you see that dash warning light flashing, that means you are losing traction and the ASR system has throttled back the motor, and applied braking to stop/minimize the traction loss. some people new to the MKIV are not aware of this, and don't realize the car is doing what it was programmed to do.
if this is the case, be more smooth on the throttle, or just turn the ASR off. [IMG]http://**********************/smile/emthup.gif[/IMG]

It's not ASR because I have it disabled through vagcom. It did it before that however, with ASR on or off. It's definitely not the traction control. And we're talking very partial throttle here, like if you were pulling away from stop and trying not not spill your coffee. No chance of wheel spin.

I have a similar situation, but I do notice a difference in exhause note, it gets quite a bit louder and seems to bog, but only like he is saying at around 3K and is only evident for about 200-300 RPM. No ASR lights, and happens almost everyday when it is cold.

Re: (Warriv04)

I have a similar situation, but I do notice a difference in exhause note, it gets quite a bit louder and seems to bog, but only like he is saying at around 3K and is only evident for about 200-300 RPM. No ASR lights, and happens almost everyday when it is cold.

Yup, almost exactly like that. It has been very cold here, but it seems to do it when the car is warmed up also.
So you guys think it could be coil packs? There's no CEL and no codes when I scan the car.

Re: (pseudosuit)

if the coilpacks or ignition was the issue you WOULD have a CEL.....have you scanned to see if there are any "35-10" intermittant codes in memory???
if not, then I'd say you need to start using measuring blocks to verify that all sensors are within spec....FAQ's/DIY's and the VAGCOM Forum have good info on these tests.

Only stored code is a intermittent short to ground on a the driver's power window switch. I guess I'll just wait until I actually get a CEL. Maybe it'll clear up when the weather gets nicer. I hate winter.

Re: (Warriv04)

i've been having the same issue at ~59,000mi. I replaced all sparkplugs, put new Hitatchi Style Coils, new fuel filter, Green Top Coolant Sensor, cleaned IAT sensor and MAF, and i am still getting it occasionally. Next thing on the list is Fuel Treatment to clean-up the injectors and valves and cleaning the MAP sensor. it's getting pretty annoying i'm almost wondering if it is weather related also.

Re: (pseudosuit)

Experienced the same thing, with CEL... random misfire on piston #1. As you drive the car a little more it stops and some times it just keeps doing in first gear. Nearly positive its a bad coil. Probably the solution to yours too.

Re: (VW1.8Tsunami)

Also experiencing a similar problem. Seems to loose a very little bit of power when slowing down to slower traffic. I throw it in 2nd to start moving with traffic, and seems to loose very little power for a second, then picks back up...

Re: (pseudosuit)

mine is doing the exact same. More so when its cold but even more when its warm. I have noticed a quick fix is plugs. Also may want to see if you have a vac leak. Im gonna try coils and a green top too to see what happens. Anyway if you find a fix before me let me know.

Re: (TheWolfsburg)

i have the same thing happening ... but i notice that if you nurse the clutch a little more in those gears in slow acceleration ... it stops ... well i'll have to do coils and plugs too i guess .... ::shrugs::

Re: (De V ianT)

I fixed mine, decided to get off my ass and change the oil and what not and looked and saw a slight tear in my DV hose going back into the intake. Replaced the hose and yup that was the deal. Even fixed my rough idle.

Re: (GTIMike1.8T)

I fixed mine, decided to get off my ass and change the oil and what not and looked and saw a slight tear in my DV hose going back into the intake. Replaced the hose and yup that was the deal. Even fixed my rough idle.

Damn, I was just under there today. lol Ill check another time.
And when you talk about a rough idle, is yours doing it at every idle, or just when you start it up and it idles rough within the 3-5 minutes after startup?

Re: (gen2fanatic)

Same problem as the OP,
was going to post about it, but yay for finding this first..
It's weird, because it only happens on partial throttle, not WOT..
and it doesnt happen every time, probably like 1/4 or 1/5 times from 0.
Some days it doesnt even happen at all..